Clutter, emotions, and folding our socks - Kondo thread 6. All welcome!

[SteptoeAndDaughter]

The Book: The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo, Cathy Hirano

Summary of the process link from mipmop

Article of top tips by Marie Kondo

Thread 5
Thread 4
Thread 3
Thread 2
Thread 1

And BeCool's copy of Coughles list of ORDER from Thread 2 for everyone:

"ORDER TO DECLUTTER/LOCATE THE JOY*

Clothes folding by rummy
Books
Papers
CDs
DVDs
Skincare products
Make-up
Accessories
Valuables (passports, credit cards, etc.)
Electrical equipment and appliances (digital cameras, electric cords, anything that seems vaguely ‘electric’)
Household equipment (stationery and writing materials, sewing kits, etc.)
Household supplies (expendables like medicine, detergents, tissues, etc.)
Kitchen goods/ food supplies
Other (If you have many items related to a particular interest or hobby, such as ski equipment, then treat these as a single subcategory.)

KonMari stresses that sentimental items should be left till the end. So for example, when you are doing papers, don't include photos of your children, love letters, old school reports etc, leave anything with a sentimental connection for later."

*As discussed in previous threads, your order for decluttering and finding the joy/spark/recognizing may be different to recommendations.

Plus you take the piss out of someone which would be to copy them in a mocking way/tease them.

Taking the piss is to mock, someone, something, even an idea or principle. Trying it on is used to describe someone who is trying to push their luck.

Just logged onto to facebook. I'm part of a large antenatal group on there that started on MN. I suggested MK to someone on one of the threads. Now there's a thread on there about MK, with lovely pictures, and it would seem there's a fair few of the group merrily kondoing away! it's infectious!

Ha, that's great, mango!

Ok wise ladies. We have two sets of sheets for our bed. One fitted sheet doesn't quite fit our deep ikea mattress (I rembrr one of you chucking yours for the same reason!) and one set of duvet cover etc makes me sweat (yuk). Can I realistically kondo the whole set and end up with only one set of sheets that fit?! Wouldn't work, would it? In which case, do I buy a new set or put up with a set that doesn't bring me joy in the slightest?!

Congratulations on kondoing your job, Cadbury. I am actually looking into ways to do the same, I think I've had it with teaching but I'm going to try to stick it out long enough to have another baby with maternity pay and also really think about what I want to do.
Haven't managed any kondoing today. It's my last week of mat leave so I really want to just play with DD and have a bit of a rest/try to come to terms with going back to work.

Zippy, at the moment I only have one set of sheets/duvet cover/pillow covers as I like expensive bedding and I can't afford to buy more at the moment ;) It's not great, first of all it gets worn quicker as it's used all the time, and of course washing has to happen first thing in the morning on a sunny day unless you have a drier.

DCs both have 3 sets, and they could easily get away with 2, but I keep all 3 for guests.

zippidy we only have one set of bed lined - the one on the bed. When I change the bed I strip, wash, dry, iron and replace on the same day. Works well for us.

Thanks for the welcome back. I promise if the gym stuff doesn't spark joy I will send it back ! Pink trainers

JKS The awkward conversation. Maybe you can turn it on its head, a la MK? Forget the awkwardness of the situation, and concentrate on the joy you are achieving. That way there may not need to be a difficulty? You have just decided that you 'want to spend more time on the family and home'. Colleagues don't need to know why you reaaly are leaving or that you will be looking for a happier job (if you plan to)!

Thanks, bring. I'm really sad about leaving my lovely baby and a bit worried about how I'll cope with all the planning, marking etc. I'm hoping to get as much done in the week as possible so I can make my weekends count with DD.

pointless aw, I'm not surprised you are sad about leaving your baby and a bit worried - I was the same. I have to be honest and say I couldn't cope so decided fairly early on to go supplying. But then, I knew I wasn't planning to have another child. I'm sure you will be absolutely fine though.

I queen - I think that's how I have to go. I'm offering to go in and help as needed for a few months anyway.
But by Sept when dd starts ft school I'll definitely have my time back for me then I can try to focus on where I want to go. I know I want to up my governor work but what else?

Pointless - I sympathise. Such a hard time. But if you can keep the long game in your head it might help.

Thanks for your kind messages. I'm sure when I get there it won't be as bad as I'm expecting. It feels like one big long Sunday evening this week!

Zippidy I sort of had this dilemma with cardigans. I managed to get 20+ down to 6 but realised I needed to replace some that had gone. So I got 5 new ones but can honestly say that they all bring me joy and will all be used so I don't feel bad.

We have 2 sets of bedding. They are both make do for now. In your case I'd get rid of the ones that don't fit or make you sweat, but only if you can afford the new ones. I hate buying bedding as I only want 100% cotton and am fussy.

Someone asked about training other people to put the shampoo, etc, away. In our shower, we have one of those containers fixed to the wall with compartments for shampoo; conditioner and shower gel so we just empty the contents in and put the bottles in the bin - no need to remember to pack bottles away.

In the bathroom, DS is too small to get out his own bubble bath; shampoo, etc - so no training required as I do it for him; and I invariably put it away after DH as he has a tendency to leave the bathroom like a bombsite although regularly cleans the ensuite so that balances out So, no succesful training here.

I have caved and bought Book 2 (in German). I saw it in the bookshop yesterday (it's no. 4 in the non-fiction bestseller charts) and couldn't resist. It looks like an interesting read from the chapter headings/subheadings and, as anzu has already said, it also has diagrams on folding clothes and organising your wardrobe. Was relieved to discover I have been folding tights in the correct way (fold in half and then roll up)!

I also had to laugh when I saw that the final chapter, on tidying/organising your life, has a subsection called "How to part with beloved soft toys" - must see if there's anything in there that will convince DS! (DH has just bought two chests to hold them all...) There are also a grand total of three pages entitled "Children enjoy tidying too". The section on plastic bags is slightly longer (and basically says that you should fold them and then store them vertically in a box).

I'm going to tackle skincare this morning and that should free up some space for shampoo etc to be kept out of the shower. DP was very enthusiastic about his clothes but less enthusiastic about 'wires and electrical' and 'paper' which largely fell to him. I think he will be even less keen about putting shampoo away after each use but maybe, like folding pants, it seems silly not to after a while.

I think I've over-kondoed my knickers, I just had to put a wash on as I'm down to my last pair!

Pointless bless you on finishing mat leave. I'm about 6 months out of mine and it's been a hard adjustment. I wish someone would've told me this: you can't be everything to everyone. Look after yourself, enjoy your precious moments with the little one & also make the most of being at work - a hot cup of tea and the chance to do nothing for ten minutes at lunch !

Thank you, lockie. I am looking forward to using the loo in peace!